STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK

AT STONY BROOK

Department of Sociology

SOC/WST 204-01, Intimate Relationships Instructor: Norman Goodman

Fall 2009 Office: SBS N-455, 632-7750
T/TH 12:50-2:10pm Office Hours: Mon. 10:30-noon,
Javits Lecture Hall 110 Wed. 10:30-12:00; 3:00-4:30
(or by appointment)
[email protected]

Teaching Assistant: Bilge Sanli

SBS, N-430, 632-7700
Office Hours: Thursday 9:45-12:45
[email protected]

Teaching Assistant: Idil Akin

SBS, N-430, 632-7700
Office Hours: Tuesday 3:00-6:00
[email protected]

COURSE OUTLINE
Course Objectives

The basic objectives of this course include the student’s understanding of:

1. The nature of intimate relationships.

2. Marriage and family as key forms of intimate relationships across time and space.
3. The common and variable elements in contemporary dating and marital behavior in the
United States.
4. The nature and viability of proposed alternative forms of intimate relationships between
men and women.

Required Books

Robert H. Lauer and Jeanette C. Lauer. Marriage and Family: The Quest for Intimacy, (7th
edition). Boston: McGraw Hill, 2009 (paperback).

This book should be purchased since it is not available in the Library; there will be no required
library readings.
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Course Requirements

1. EXAMS

There will be three non-cumulative examinations, including a final examination during the regular
university final examination period. Each examination will consist of both multiple choice and
essay questions (which count equally). There will be no term papers. Later exams will count more
than earlier ones in your course grade. WARNING: Incomplete on an examination will be allowed
only on the presentation of a valid medical excuse within one week of the examination. Otherwise,
an absence from an examination will be recorded as an “F.” Students are advised to avoid
making travel plans, wedding plans, or any other plans that would take them away from Stony
Brook during scheduled examinations for this course.

a. Dates

1. First Examination: Tentatively scheduled for October 8, 2009. (counts 15% of course
grade)
2. Second Examination: Tentatively scheduled for November 12, 2009. (counts 30% of
course grade)
3. Final Examination: Definitely scheduled for December 17, 2009, 5:15-7:15pm.
(counts 50% of course grade)

b. Grade calculation (see last page for information to allow you to monitor your grades)

2. Writing Assignment

Learning to write clearly is an important part of a university education; good writing both reflects
and facilitates clear thinking. In this as in many other instances, practice is likely to enhance
performance. Consequently, there will be a brief, required writing assignment due on September
22, 2009. Specific details will be provided at the beginning of the course. Failure to complete the
writing assignment on time will be considered a failure to meet one of the course requirements and
will result in a reduction in the student’s course grade. Successful completion of this requirement
counts 5% of final course grade.

Attendance and Participation

Since class meetings often include material beyond the required reading, attendance is strongly
encouraged. Moreover, you will often have ideas and experiences that can illuminate issues for the
class. Consequently, your active participation in class discussions is also strongly encouraged.

Student Responsibility

Unforeseen events occasionally arise which require revisions of the course schedule, changes in
examination dates or procedures, etc. Any necessary changes or announcements will be made
several times (if possible) and in advance of the event. Since it is possible that you may
occasionally miss a class, I suggest that each of you find (and get the phone numbers of) one or two
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“buddies” whose class schedules, sleeping habits and attendance patterns are different from yours--
that is, friends who are likely to be in class for those occasional times you are not--and that you
routinely check with them when you have missed all or part of a class to get their notes and to see if
there have been any changes in the course activities. It is the student’s responsibility to keep up to
date.

Also, education works best as an active process. In fact, the success of the course depends on
student involvement. Consequently, students are encouraged to participate in class discussions.

Mutual Expectations

(See the sections on “Minimal Instructional Responsibilities” and “Minimal Undergraduate

Student Responsibilities” on page 81-82 of the 2007-2009 Undergraduate Bulletin for more
detailed information.)

l. What you may expect of me.

a. A sincere effort to help you learn the course material. I will spend enough time and effort in
class preparation to make the material as understandable and as interesting as I possibly can.
In other words, I will do my homework.
b. Accessibility. I will be available to you outside of class hours should you desire help,
clarification, etc. Naturally, I cannot promise to be free to talk to you at length at any time of
the day or night, but I do have extensive office hours covering different days and different
time periods for your convenience. If you get in touch with me at a time when I am
occupied with something that cannot be disturbed, I will gladly set a mutually convenient
alternate time to see you.
c. Attention/Courtesy. When you are speaking, I will give you my undivided attention. And I
will never ridicule you or indicate any disagreement with you in an impolite fashion.
d. Fairness. Your grade will be based upon the evidence available about what you have learned
in the course. It will not be based upon any purely personal consideration nor by whether
you and I agree about an issue. I will not negotiate final grades, nor will I be able to provide
extra-credit assignments to affect your grade.

2. What I will expect of you.

a. A sincere effort to learn the course material.

b. Careful and complete reading of the assignments, and on the schedule listed in the syllabus.
c. Attention/courtesy. Just as I will not be inattentive or impolite to you, I will not tolerate
inattention or incivility either to me or to other students. When I am speaking to you and to
the rest of the class, I expect to have your undivided attention. When another student is
speaking, I similarly expect you to give that student your undivided attention. If you
disagree with something that is said in class, you will always be given the chance to express
your disagreement politely
d. Turn off all beepers and cell phones during the class period because they are a distraction.
e. Promptness/attendance. You should be in class on time except when delayed by an
emergency, and you should comply with all due dates listed on the syllabus. You should stay
until the class is over unless you become ill or have made a prior arrangement with me to
leave early. If, because of an emergency or prior arrangement you arrive late or have to
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leave early, please sit in the rear so that your movements will not disturb me or the other
students.
f. Honesty. Intellectual honesty is central to academic integrity. If you cheat, you fail! No
excuses will be accepted. Each student must pursue his or her academic goals honestly and
be personally accountable for all submitted work. Representing another person’s work as
your own is always wrong. Any suspected instance of academic dishonesty will be reported
to the Academic Judiciary. For more comprehensive information on academic integrity,
including categories of academic dishonesty, please refer to the academic judiciary website at
http://www.stonybrook.edu/uaa/academicjudiciary/ (Adopted by the Undergraduate Council
September 12, 2006).

Additional Assistance

DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES (DSS) STATEMENT: If you have a physical,

psychological, medical, or learning disability that may impact your course work, please contact
Disability Support Services (631) 632-6748 or http://studentaffairs.stonybrook.edu/dss/. They will
determine with you what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and
documentation is confidential.

Students who require assistance during emergency evacuation are encouraged to discuss their needs
with their professors and Disability Support Services. For procedures and information go to the
following website: http://www.stonybrook.edu/ehs/fire/disabilities/asp.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STATEMENT:

Each student must pursue his or her academic goals honestly and be personally accountable for all
submitted work. Representing another person's work as your own is always wrong. Faculty are
required to report any suspected instance of academic dishonesty to the Academic Judiciary. For
more comprehensive information on academic integrity, including categories of academic
dishonesty, please refer to the academic judiciary website at
http://www.stonybrook.edu/uaa/academicjudiciary/

CRITICAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT:

Stony Brook University expects students to respect the rights, privileges, and property of other
people. Faculty are required to report to the Office of Judicial Affairs any disruptive behavior that
interrupts their ability to teach, compromises the safety of the learning environment, and/or inhibits
students' ability to learn.
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COURSE SCHEDULE

I September 1 – 8

A. Introduction (the nature of intimate relationships; dating and marriage as intimate

relationships; the scientific pursuit of knowledge in this field; different approaches to
the field).

B. Required Reading

Lauer & Lauer (2009): Pages 20-22

II September 10 – October 6 (no class on September 29th)

A. Dating and Marriage: Past and Present. Brief introduction to a structural-functional

analysis of the family; the variety of structures; the different functions of the family;
the issue of the universality of the family; gender roles; role differentiation within
the family; etc.

B. Required Reading

Lauer & Lauer (2009): Pages 27-28

III September 22 - ONE-PAGE PAPER DUE

IV October 8 (TENTATIVE) FIRST EXAMINATION

V October 13 – November 10

A. The Genesis of Family Life (dating; courtship; love; sex; partner selection;
engagement, etc.)

B. Required Reading

Lauer & Lauer (2009): Pages 10-13 and chapters 4 through 7

VI November 12 (TENTATIVE) - SECOND EXAMINATION

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VII November 17 – 24 (No class November 26: Thanksgiving)

A. The Dynamics of Married Life (married-pair living; marital and extra-marital

sexuality; bases of marital conflict; sources of marital solidarity; parenthood; etc.).

B. Required Reading

Lauer & Lauer (2009): Pages 6-9, and chapters 8-11, 13

VIII December 1-8

A. Family Transitions (marital crises; marital abuse; marital dissolution; remarriage).

B. Required Reading

Lauer & Lauer (2009): Chapters 14-16

IX December 10

A. The Future of Marriage and the Family (contemporary issues and proposed
alternative patterns; equality between the sexes; parenthood; communal living;
“living together”; group marriage; “open marriage”; and other proposed alternatives
to the traditional American nuclear family; the future of marriage and the nuclear
family; etc.).

B. Required Reading

Lauer & Lauer (2009): Epilogue

X THIRD FINAL EXAMINATION: DEFINITELY SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY,

DECEMBER 17, 2009, 5:15-7:15PM.
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Calculation of Exam and Final Course Grades

Multiple Choice
and Essay
Multiple Choice Exam Grade Final Course Grade
Exam# Weight Equivalents Equivalents

1 .075 A+ = 98 A > 94
2 .15 A = 95 A-= 89.5-93.9
3 .25 A- = 92

B+ = 88 B+= 86.5-89.4
Essays B = 85 B = 83.5-86.4
Exam# Weight B- = 82 B- = 79.5-83.4

1 .075 C+ = 78 C+= 76.5-79.4

2 .15 C = 75 C = 73.5-76.4
3 .25 C- = 72 C- = 69.5-73.4

Writing Assignment
.05 D+ = 68 D+ = 66.5-69.4
D = 65 D = 59.5-66.4
D- = 62

F = 50 F = 0-59.4
Didn’t take exam = 0

Example

1st exam: A on multiple choice, B on essay: 95 x .075 + 85 x .075 = 13.50

nd
2 exam: B+ on multiple choice, B on essay: 88 x .15 + 85 x .15 = 25.95
Final exam: B on multiple choice, B- on essay: 85 x 25 + 82 x . 25 = 41.75
1-page paper: 5 = 5.00
86.20 = B